Elite 11 Finals Preview: Top quarterbacks to compete in Los Angeles

Twenty of the nation’s top quarterbacks in 2025 cycle will be in Los Angeles this week to compete in the Elite 11 Finals – the nation’s premier quarterback camp. The finalists were selected following performances at one of the Elite 11 regionals held throughout the spring.

Heading into the event, it’s important to note what we feel can be gleaned from this camp relative to prospect evaluation. First off, the Elite 11 Finals is the lone setting over the course of the cycle where we are able to see the majority of the nation’s top quarterbacks side by side. We’re able to get a feel for the how the group stacks up relative to physical tools – size, arm strength and some movement skills. We can also get a good feel for overall passing skill and level of development.

Complete Elite 11 Finals Roster | Ranking the top Elite 11 regional performances

With that said, the Elite 11 is a highly structured, pass-only setting. There is no pass rush or an open environment comparable to a live, 11-on-11 football game. The closest semblance of live action we’re able to see comes on the third day, with each of the 20 quarterbacks throwing in a brief 7-on-7 session.

Camp showings are informative and are certainly taken into account when it comes to ranking the quarterbacks. We feel it’s important to take a big picture view as it relates to projectable skills, rather than simply zeroing in on the Elite 11 performance on a throw-by-throw basis. This will be the most recent look and can be an indicator of where the group stands going into their senior seasons – the most important evaluation period.

We’re excited about the level of talent that will be on hand. Let’s take a look at some of the big names at this year’s Elite 11 Finals.

Deep group of headliners at the Elite 11 Finals

Every top quarterback in the cycle other than LSU commit Bryce Underwood is set to be at the Elite 11 Finals. Four of the finalists currently rank in the top 30 overall prospects in the On300 – Missouri commit Matt Zollers, Tennessee commit George MacIntyre, USC commit Julian Lewis and Ohio State commit Tavien St. Clair. Seeing the group perform on the same field for three days should help in sorting out how they fall into the overall quarterback rankings going into the fall.

Matt Zollers (No. 13 in the On300) enters as the highest-ranked Elite 11 Finalist for On3. That ranking is based on his play as a junior a Royersford (Pa.) Spring-Ford and was backed up by a very strong showing at the Elite 11 regional in State College, Pennsylvania. Given his ranking, Zollers enters the event as the closest to five-star range within the On300. Can Zollers earn a fifth star? He’s an impressive physical talent with top shelf arm strength and some of the best movement skills we’ve seen to this point in the cycle. Based on what we saw on junior film and at the regional, Zollers should stack up near the top relative to physical tools. We’ll still be looking to see if that’s the case along with his overall level of consistency. The 6-foot-3.5, 203-pounder is a big pickup for the Tigers.

No highly-ranked quarterback may have more to prove in Los Angeles than George MacIntyre (No. 17). The 6-foot-6.25, 190-pounder has long-been ranked as one of the cycle’s top quarterbacks. MacIntyre is a tall passer with playmaking ability and solid athleticism. The Tennessee pledge had an up and down junior season while facing tough competition and did not look overly comfortable spinning the football in two separate camp outings this spring. In his defense, those were the his first two national level camps to our knowledge. Given the number of top talents currently behind him in the rankings, MacIntyre will need to show some improvement and stack up well within the group from an arm talent perspective to avoid being jumped.

Julian Lewis (No. 23) is certainly one of the biggest names on hand at the Elite 11 Finals. The On3 Industry five-star has long been touted as a top quarterback prospect. The USC pledge is a highly polished passer who showed accuracy and the ability to replicate his throwing motion at the Elite 11 Atlanta regional. We expect Lewis to continue showing that high level of development at the Elite 11 Finals. We’ll be looking to see how the 6-foot, 186-pounder stacks up with regard to his physical tools. Does he have five-star caliber arm talent? We’ll also be watching his footwork and movement skills. Lewis, who was originally a member of the 2026 class prior to reclassifying, will be the youngest quarterback on hand. With that said, it’s possible we could see some continued physical development given his younger age.

Don’t be surprised to see Tavien St. Clair (No. 28) make a strong impression at the Elite 11 Finals. At around 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, he will be the largest passer on hand in Los Angeles. Based on what we’ve seen to this point, we expect St. Clair to fare well particularly on the first day which is primarily drill work and routes on air. The Bellefontaine (Ohio) High standout is clean in the camp setting. He threw with outstanding touch both from the pocket and on the run at the Elite 11’s Columbus, Ohio regional. We’re eager to see how he fares in the 7-on-7 portion of the event as we’ve had limited exposure to him in that context.

Intriguing top challengers look to impress

One of the top storylines of the Elite 11 Finals is the deep crop of top physical talents who could be primed to ascend.

Notre Dame commit Deuce Knight (No. 58) is arguably the most athletic signal caller in the 2025 cycle. The 6-foot-4.5, 208-pounder has elite athleticism to go with a strong arm. The lefty is a developmental talent as a passer. His accuracy and overall level of consistency have been up and down at times. Knight has been hard at work this offseason and is fresh off a very positive showing at Overtime’s OT7 Finals, where he earned On3 MVP honors. The Elite 11 Finals provides another opportunity for Knight to showcase his improvements and springboard into his senior season.

If you’re looking for the strongest arm at the Elite 11 Finals, you probably want to start with Texas A&M commit Husan Longstreet (No. 77). The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has a rocket launcher attached to his shoulder. From what we’ve seen on junior film and on the camp circuit, Longstreet looks to have one of the most explosive arms in the cycle along with Bryce Underwood. The Corona (Calif.) Centennial signal caller is twitchy in his movements. There’s little doubt Longstreet can throw the fastball. We’ll be focused on his level of nuance as a passer – namely the location and touch on his passes.

Alabama commit Keelon Russell (No. 80) enters the Elite 11 Finals with the reputation of owning a well-rounded physical skillset. Russell, who recently flipped to Alabama from SMU is a prospect has shown steady improvement over the course of the last year. The 6-foot-3.1, 181-pounder has a live arm with the ability to throw with impressive velocity to intermediate areas of the field. Given what we saw at the Elite 11’s Austin regional, we’ll be watching to see how the Duncanville (Texas) product operates off-platform. We’re eager to see how he stacks up within the group.

Mississippi State commit KaMario Taylor (No. 94) has been on a steady ascent over the past several months. He had one of the most productive junior seasons of any 2025 quarterback, accounting for 4,436 total yards and 58 touchdowns while leading his team to a state title appearance. Taylor backed that up with two very impressive showings on the camp circuit. The 6-foot-3.5, 205-pounder enters the Elite 11 Finals looking like one of the top physical talents in the cycle. The Macon (Miss.) Noxubee County playmaker has shown big-time arm strength on the camp circuit. The reactive quickness that we see on Friday nights was also evident at the Elite 11 Atlanta regional. While the high-end talent has been easy to see to this point, we’re looking for continued improvement with overall consistency.

Potential Elite 11 Finals risers

While the depth of top-ranked talents is the main storyline entering the Elite 11 Finals, there are a handful of prospects outside the top 100 who could make a statement.

Miami commit Luke Nickel (No. 146) had an impressive showing at the Elite 11’s Atlanta regional, building on a breakout junior season that saw him lead Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton to a state title in Georgia’s top classification. The 6-foot-1.5, 215-pounder has shown notable accuracy and location on his passes. He also flashed solid movement skills from within the pocket. The regional was our first neutral setting exposure to Nickel, so we’re anticipating getting a further look at the Hurricane pledge.

North Carolina commit Bryce Baker (No. 191) could have the best odds to ascend with a strong showing at the Elite 11 Finals. The 6-foot-2.25, 200-pounder’s performance at the Atlanta regional was among the best we saw throughout the spring. Baker showed a well-rounded skill set with a strong arm, solid accuracy and good movement skills. The two-sport athlete’s pure physical talent stacks up well on film. The Elite 11 Finals provides an opportunity for Baker to show he belongs in the top group of 2025 quarterbacks.

We expect Florida State commit Tramell Jones to look comfortable within the structure of the Elite 11 Finals. The 6-foot, 195-pounder’s passing skill impressed at the Oxford, Mississippi regional. Jones is an accurate, rhythmic passer with the ability to consistently deliver with location from within the pocket. A great showing in Los Angeles would help his push for a fourth star with On3.

Stay tuned to On3 for full coverage of the Elite 11 Finals.